Free fun during Cinco de Mayo

Free apparently is popular.

Facing slow ticket sales for a Cinco de Mayo concert and complaints on social media, a committee of city and Mesalands Community College officials decided to make it a free event less than a week before it was scheduled to take place.

By 9 p.m. Saturday night, well over 100 people had gathered in the Tucumcari Convention Center to listen to and dance to the music of Colorado AllStarz, with more streaming through the venue's front doors.

Jonathan Brito, a city commissioner and a member of the committee that planned the event, said Sunday the convention center's doorman said between 150 and 175 people attended.

The committee originally had planned to charge $20 for advance tickets and $25 at door for the shows Saturday night by Colorado AllStarz and Peter Vigil and The All-Star Band.

But by last Tuesday afternoon, the city announced on Facebook the shows would be free instead.

"The Cinco De Mayo Planning Committee followed the precedent set by prior years and charged for the entertainment with proceeds committed to reinvesting in the Lodger's Tax fund. However, following an evaluation for the cost of travel, due to increased fuel prices, and costs to visitors attending from outside of town, in conjunction with the community's suggestions for free events, the Cinco De Mayo committee decided it was in the best interest of the community and the event to waive ticket prices," the post stated.

City manager Paula Chacon said Wednesday after a Tucumcari Lodgers Tax Advisory Board meeting that slow ticket sales prompted the Cinco de Mayo committee of city and Mesalands officials to reconsider.

Chacon said only "four to six" tickets had been sold at City Hall for the convention center shows. Josh McVey, vice president of student affairs at Mesalands, said the college had not sold a single ticket through Tuesday.

No ticket-sales data was available from the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce. Regardless, it was apparent the Saturday night dance would be sparsely attended if action wasn't taken.

Chacon said she and others on the committee took note of comments on social media "on why were we charging" when other city events that used lodgers tax funds were free.

"We just thought, 'You know what? Let's try it. Let's see if it's beneficial,'" Chacon said.

Chacon and McVey also noted during the lodgers tax board meeting the free concerts might encourage more out-of-town visitors to stay the night and spend money at the city's motels.

Lodgers tax board member Michael Carlson expressed intrigue with the prospect of a ticketed event suddenly being free.

"I think it will be interesting to see what happens," he said.

Afternoon Cinco de Mayo family events Saturday afternoon at the college also were well-attended. The college charged 25 cents for a number of games in its wind-energy building, and it distributed a number of free tickets to elementary school students.

A large crowd soon gathered to watch 14-year-old Zion Martinez and other daredevils try to ride the college's mechanical bull, which the rodeo team uses for practice.

The bull bucked more vigorously as the seconds ticked by. Zion hung on for 27 seconds but admitted "it's harder than it looks."

Parents and children streamed into the wind-energy building to check out booths that offered free pinatas, cotton candy, face painting, tic tac toe, a beanbag toss, Connect 4 and Operation games.

A sizable crowd also gathered in the bleachers to listen to and laugh at Mariachi Elvis, who performed in a black-and-gold jumpsuit and sunglasses that befit the King of Rock and Roll.

The college's parking lot also featured two food trucks and a classic-car show - many of them low riders from the local Raza Unita Car Club.

McVey was inside a dunk tank, where children were happy to repeatedly send him plunging into the water.

A sopping wet McVey said he was happy to see the turnout at the college.

"It's nice to see the community coming out," he said. "Lots of energy, lots of fun."

Reached Sunday afternoon, Chacon said she was pleased with the festival's overall turnout but would assess it later on whether to continue to make it a free event.